BILL NUMBER: ACR 80	CHAPTERED  09/20/99

	RESOLUTION CHAPTER   117
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE   SEPTEMBER 20, 1999
	ADOPTED IN SENATE   SEPTEMBER 9, 1999
	ADOPTED IN ASSEMBLY   SEPTEMBER 2, 1999

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Thomson
   (Coauthor: Senator Johannessen)

                        AUGUST 17, 1999

   Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 80--Relative to California
Hospice Month.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   ACR 80, Thomson.  California Hospice Month.
   This measure would declare and proclaim the month of November as
California Hospice Month.




   WHEREAS, The hospice philosophy of care treats the person instead
of the disease, focuses on the family in addition to the patient, and
emphasizes quality of life; and
   WHEREAS, Hospice care is a specialized form of interdisciplinary
health care designed to alleviate the physical, emotional, social,
and spiritual needs of individuals and families experiencing terminal
illness, while providing them with choice, dignity, and
independence; and
   WHEREAS, Hospice brings a tradition of stewardship of resources,
interdisciplinary team management, patient and family advocacy, and
ethical decision-making to the management of terminal illness; and
   WHEREAS, Approximately 50,000 patients were served by California
hospice programs in 1998 and the number grows annually; and
   WHEREAS, Hospice provides compassionate, cost-effective care; and
   WHEREAS, The California Hospice and Palliative Care Association is
a nonprofit, charitable organization advocating for the terminally
ill and their families by promoting the availability and access to
quality hospice and palliative care; now, therefore, be it
   Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
thereof concurring, That in acknowledgment of the value of hospice
services to families and communities and in recognition of the
thousands of health care professionals and volunteers who care for
terminally ill patients and their families, the members of the
California Assembly and Senate declare and proclaim the month of
November as California Hospice Month; and be it further
   Resolved, That the California Legislature urge all government
agencies, health care organizations and providers, hospice providers,
and the people of the State of California to observe California
Hospice Month with appropriate programs and activities designed to
educate and to encourage recognition of, and support for, hospice
care as a valuable component of our state's health system; and be it
further
   Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit a suitably
prepared copy of this resolution to the author for appropriate
distribution.
